*Trying on a few others, talking about the price, the Glashutte history, have an espresso, etc*

Okay, here's my card do you want to start ringing me up?
*Comes back 1min later*
"Sir, would you like to split this or use another card it is declining it"
That's bullshit, I know for a fact there is more than enough in that account to handle this and I even made sure there would be no security red flags as I told them I'd be making a major purchase in the next few days. Let me call.

*Call up WaMu and go through 10 min of menus to get someone*
Hi, I'm trying to make a purchase right now and it declined it. What do you show my balance as?
"XX,XXX"
Okay, so why was a purchase of X,XXX declined?
"You have a $3,000/point of sale purchase limit."
But, this isn't a credit card it is a debit/check card, the money is there how is there a limit?
"It doesn't matter if you have enough, you can't make purchases over $3,000."
Well, can you remove this block right now so I can make the purchase?
"Sorry Sir, I can't, they might be able to in the store."
So, you're telling me that I could have $40 million in my checking account and couldn't spend more than $3,000.
"That's correct."
That's bullshit.
*Hang up*

"Is everything alright sir?"
Yes, they won't let me make a purchase over $3,000 even though there is more than enough to cover the watch. I'm going to run to WaMu and get your cash.
*Chuckle from another associate who probably thought I wouldn't show my face in there again.*

*Book it over to 56th/6th WaMu and fill out withdrawl slip*
"How can I help you today?"
Hi, I need to withdraw this because you have a limit on my check card.
"You want this..in cash?"
Yup, unless you can remove that block.
"No, we can't do that...are you sure you don't want an official check?"
No thank you, I'll take it in cash....large bills please.
(If you don't know Washington Mutual, when you take out money they give you a pin # and you go to a dispenser and everything comes out of that)
"Let me check the balances of the dispenser, we might have to split it up into 2 withdrawls."
*Hands me the recepit with the PIN*
"Please use that dispenser."
*Enter the pin, wait about 30 secs, shove it in a big envelope, count it and have them put it in the counter*

*Cross 55th between 6th and 5th faster than I ever could imagine with a kungfoo grip on an envelope of cash*

*Doorman unlocks the front door*

*See my associate, raise my fist*
Here you go, all in cash.
*Bewilderment from the one who laughed*
"I wish all of my customers were as dedicated as you."

*Complete the transaction and go on my merry way*

Banks seem to have the odd habit of thinking any cash over $2000 is an huge amount.

I'm beginning to get a bit tired of the abundance of alligator/crocodile straps on luxury watches.

The problem is that I don't really care for anything else. Ostrich is okay, but tends to be in a very orangey shade. Lizard looks like it came from a kiosk at the mall. Pigskin and calf may be and look appropriate on vintage watches but anything modern seems out of place on them. Panerai are my lone exception. They definitely belong on calf.

I tried to find someone who could make a custom rubber strap (wanted one with curved ends that would work with a deployant clasp) and couldn't find anyone.

It's actually a BP rubber coating over leather. I think it is superior to their rubber only. A great source for BP style straps is European Watch Co. in Boston. They have them made by Camille Fournet and sell them for about 50-55% of the OEM retail. Their website only shows Patek straps right now, but call them. The quality is excellent and they are almost indistinguishable from OEM.

It's actually a BP rubber coating over leather. I think it is superior to their rubber only. A great source for BP style straps is European Watch Co. in Boston. They have them made by Camille Fournet and sell them for about 50-55% of the OEM retail. Their website only shows Patek straps right now, but call them. The quality is excellent and they are almost indistinguishable from OEM.

Thurston, sounds like you've had some good experiences with European Watch Co. in Boston? I've always wondered about them... have you bought many watches from them in the past?

I don't see them mentioned here often, but what is the opinon of Bell & Ross watches?

I liked the first series made by Sinn (I have one - the Space 1 chrono with Lemania movement). I find some of their current designs attractive but I intensely dislike their square instrument line (which seems to be quite successful actually - I was very surprised to see a picture of Norman Foster sporting one as I thought before that day that he had decent taste)